Effects of annealing gas species on the electrical properties and reliability of Ge MOS capacitors with high-k Y 2O 3 gate dielectric

In this work, Ge MOS capacitors with Y 2O 3 gate dielectric were fabricated. The effects of annealing in N 2, NH 3 O 2 or NO ambient were investigated. Experimental results demonstrated that the NO annealing could improve both electrical properties and reliability of Ge MOS devices with Y 2O 3 dielectric. On the other hand, the NH 3 annealing resulted in H-related traps while the O 2 annealing suffered from extra GeO x growth, thus both degrading the performance of the devices. ©2009 IEEE.published_or_final_versionThe IEEE International Conference on Electron Devices and Solid-State Circuits (EDSSC 2009), Xi'an, China, 25-27 December 2009. In Proceedings of EDSSC, 2009, p. 243-24

Impacts of Ti on electrical properties of Ge metal-oxide-semiconductor capacitors with ultrathin high-κ LaTiON gate dielectric

Ge Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (MOS) capacitors with LaON gate dielectric incorporating different Ti contents are fabricated and their electrical properties are measured and compared. It is found that Ti incorporation can increase the dielectric permittivity, and the higher the Ti content, the larger is the permittivity. However, the interfacial and gate-leakage properties become poorer as the Ti content increases. Therefore, optimization of Ti content is important in order to obtain a good trade-off among the electrical properties of the device. For the studied range of the Ti/La 2O 3 ratio, a suitable Ti/La 2O 3 ratio of 14.7% results in a high relative permittivity of 24.6, low interfacestate density of 3.1 × 10 11 eV -1 cm -2, and relatively low gate-leakage current density of 2.0×10 -3 Acm -2 at a gate voltage of 1 V. © The Author(s) 2010.published_or_final_versionSpringer Open Choice, 21 Feb 201

Optimization of N content for higk-k LaTiON gate dielectric of Ge MOS capacitor

Thin LaTiON gate dielectric is deposited on Ge (100) substrate by reactive co-sputtering of La 2O 3 and Ti targets under different Ar/N 2 ratios of 24/3, 24/6, 24/12, and 24/18, and their electrical properties are investigated and compared. Results show that the LaTiON gate-dielectric Ge MOS capacitor prepared at an Ar/N 2 ratio of 24/6 exhibits highest relative permittivity, smallest capacitance equivalent thickness, and best electrical characteristics, including low interface-state density, small C-V hysteresis and low gate leakage current. This is attributed to the fact that a suitable N content in LaTiON can effectively suppress the growth of low-k GeO x interfacial layer between LaTiON and Ge substrate.published_or_final_versionThe IEEE International Conference of Electron Devices and Solid-State Circuits (EDSSC) 2009, Xi'an, China, 25-27 December 2009. In Proceedings of EDSSC, 2009, p. 225-22

A compact threshold-voltage model of MOSFETs with stack high-k gate dielectric

In this paper, a compact threshold-voltage model is developed for stack high-k gate-dielectric MOSFET with a thin interiayer. The simulated results are in good agreement with 2-D simulations. The influences of k value of the interlayer on threshold behaviors are investigated in detail. A low-k interlayer can effectively improve the threshold-voltage behaviors. Furthermore, the ratio of low-k interiayer EOT (equivalent oxide thickness) to high-k layer EOT is optimized by considering both threshold-voltage roll-off and gate leakage current. ©2009 IEEE.published_or_final_versionThe IEEE International Conference of Electron Devices and Solid-State Circuits (EDSSC 2009), Xian, China, 25-27 December 2009. In Proceedings of EDSSC, 2009, p. 236-23

Deletion of SIRT1 in perivascular adipose tissue accelerates obesity-induced endothelial dysfunction

Conference Theme: Tomorrow’s medicines: pharmacology, patients and populationsINTRODUCTION: Perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) exhibits brown adipose features and its dysfunction is implicated in cardiovascular diseases. SIRT1 is key to adipocyte phenotypes and metabolism. AIMS: In the present study, we aim to investigate the role of SIRT1 within PVAT in modulating obesity-evoked endothelial dysfunction. Methods. Wild type (WT) and adipocyte-specific SIRT1 knockout mice (AKO) were fed with standard chow or westernized diet for 12 weeks. Endothelium-dependent relaxation (EDR) in aortic rings with or without PVAT was assessed by wire myograph. DHE staining was …published_or_final_versio

The effective fraction isolated from Radix Astragali alleviates glucose intolerance, insulin resistance and hypertriglyceridemia in db/db diabetic mice through its anti-inflammatory activity

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Macrophage infiltration in adipose tissue together with the aberrant production of pro-inflammatory cytokines has been identified as the key link between obesity and its related metabolic disorders. This study aims to isolate bioactive ingredients from the traditional Chinese herb Radix Astragali (Huangqi) that alleviate obesity-induced metabolic damage through inhibiting inflammation.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Active fraction (Rx) that inhibits pro-inflammatory cytokine production was identified from Radix Astragali by repeated bioactivity-guided high-throughput screening. Major constituents in Rx were identified by column chromatography followed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and mass-spectrometry. Anti-diabetic activity of Rx was evaluated in db/db mice.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Treatment with Rx, which included calycosin-7-β-D-glucoside (0.9%), ononin (1.2%), calycosin (4.53%) and formononetin (1.1%), significantly reduced the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6 and MCP-1) in human THP-1 macrophages and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced activation of NF-κB in mouse RAW-Blue macrophages in a dose-dependent manner. Chronic administration of Rx in db/db obese mice markedly decreased the levels of both fed and fasting glucose, reduced serum triglyceride, and also alleviated insulin resistance and glucose intolerance when compared to vehicle-treated controls. The mRNA expression levels of inflammatory cell markers CD68 and F4/80, and cytokines MCP-1, TNF-α and IL-6 were significantly reduced in epididymal adipose tissue while the alternatively activated macrophage marker arginase I was markedly increased in the Rx-treated mice.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These findings suggest that suppression of the inflammation pathways in macrophages represents a valid strategy for high-throughput screening of lead compounds with anti-diabetic and insulin sensitizing properties, and further support the etiological role of inflammation in the pathogenesis of obesity-related metabolic disorders.</p

Efficient inverted polymer solar cells with thermal-evaporated and solution-processed small molecular electron extraction layer

Efficient inverted polymer solar cell is reported upon by integrating with a small molecular 1,3,5-tri(phenyl-2-benzimi-dazolyl)-benzene (TPBi) electron extraction layer (EEL) at low processing temperature with thermal-evaporation and solution-process, resulting in the power conversion efficiencies of 3.70 and 3.47, respectively. The potential of TPBi as an efficient EEL is associated with its suitable electronic energy level for electron extraction and hole blocking from the active layer to the indium tin oxide cathode. © 2013 American Institute of Physics

Sequence variation in TgROP7 gene among Toxoplasma gondii isolates from different hosts and geographical regions

Toxoplasma gondii can infect a wide range of hosts including mammals and birds, causing toxoplasmosis which is one of the most common parasitic zoonoses worldwide. The present study examined sequence variation in rhoptry 7 (ROP7) gene among different T. gondii isolates from different hosts and geographical localities. Phylogenetic analysis of the examined T. gondii isolates was conducted using the maximum likelihood (ML) method. Sequence analysis revealed that 60 nucleotide positions were variable in the ROP7 gene sequences among the 19 examined T. gondii isolates, corresponding to sequence variations of 0 to 1.7%, which occurred at the first, second and third codons. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that sequence variation in ROP7 gene was low among the examined T. gondii isolates from different hosts and geographical localities, and that the ROP7 sequence was not suitable as genetic marker for the differentiation of T. gondii isolates. The results of the present study suggest that ROP7 gene may be a suitable vaccine candidate.Key words: Sequence variation, rhoptry 7 (ROP7) gene, Toxoplasma gondii, toxoplasmosis, phylogenetic analysis

Regulatory effect of puerarin on lipid profile in hypercholesterolemic rats

2006-2007 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalVersion of RecordPublishe